Will My Milk Start to Dry up Because I Have to Go Back to Work?

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Pumping at work just takes chutzpah. I found that I made a lot of friends in the ladies room. Women would ask me about it, tell me they did it a few years ago, their sister was doing it, or "what is that thing?! Dialysis?!"

In my own experience, I think my kid got a little bit less breast milk and a little bit more formula when I went back to work, but I was okay with that, in the grand scheme of every thing the great thing about breast milk is that it doesn't have to be exclusive; even if you do a little, the benefits are there.

I am going back to work too... and we have a public break room. blegh. I am planning on pumping in the bathroom. I found an avent on-the-go manual pump that is almost MORE effective than my electric pump (as long as you take out the soft "petal" thing they add to make it more comfortable)! It came with an insulated bag that looks like a lunch box, so it's discreet and you have a place to keep your milk fresh. I have a Madella pump in style for home use... but like I said, I will have to pump in the bathroom. Im not too happy about that, but hey, you do what you have to. lol. Oh~ Legally, they HAVE to give you time to pump. Discrimination laws say that the workplace has to make "reasonable accommodations" for those with disabilities (nursing mothers count.) I researched this, because I work for a JERK. (I actually got fired during maternity leave... fought it and got my job back and decided to make sure I knew my rights.) Good luck!

I suggest working with a lactation consultant.

I did have a hard time continuing to breast feed when I returned to work. Between the hours and my increased anxiety, my supply started to dwindle. At the time, I had a job where I drove between sites a lot. I got a contraption so that I could pump hands free in the car. (Sexy, I know.)

It depends on your body. You may have a much better supply than I did. I have a good friend who never pumped at work, but continued to breast feed in the morning and evening (her babies got formula at day care) and her supply lasted just fine through the first year for 4 babies.

There are so many options, I'm sure you'll find a good solution.

There are some laws about that. You should be allowed I think every so often to pump your breasts. Tell them during your lunch break, I am going in the bathroom and will be there for 15 minutes or so to pump so the bathroom will not be available. You could also go in to the office if one is available,look the door and pump your breasts also. Good luck

When I switched to feeding my daughter less and then just at night, my milk didn't dry up. In fact it took a while after I completely stopped for it to dry up. Now the supply was reduced, but it didn't dry up. I think you will be okay, but you may not be able to expect to breastfeed her all day on the weekends if you don't breastfeed her all day during the work.

I don't think your milk will dry up instantaneously, but you may produce less (less supply since there is less demand)... You may want to try supplementing with a little formula (half and half........) so this isn't too traumatic for your daughter.... (It took my son about 3 days before he would take a bottle without crying... and my husband had to feed him.... he wouldn't take it from me). It's already going to be an adjustment with you not being there.... So- you may want to get the feeding down now.

Good luck....I know this is such a hard decision...

Hi there,
In my experience, it does take a little more work to keep your supply up, but YOU CAN DO IT!

If there isn't a private place to pump (and I don't think PA guarantees you one), there are manual pumps you can use in a ladies' room that doesn't have an outlet, and there are also car adapters you can get for electric pumps per Jessica's suggestion below.

I think one of the hard things about going back to work and nursing is remembering to eat and drink enough, possibly drinking more caffeine, and of course not getting enough sleep. I recommend having oatmeal for breakfast, which can boost supply and be filling.

IF you find your supply dwindling - and there is no guarantee you will - there are lots of things you can do to help boost it, so don't fret!

Congrats on your baby, and GOOD FOR YOU for trying to keep this up for your daughter. Just do your best, Mama.

Your milk supply will go off demand, so keep the demand up... If you haven't already you need to start pumping. I know I use to get so upset when I had to throw away my breastmilk because my son didn't drink it because I had pumped too much. Hopefully your boss will let you pump during your breaks. I BF my son until he was 3, however, only pumped until he was year old. There were times, like around 6 months, introducing foods my supply started to go down. There were also days when I could hardly get anything out while I was pumping at work, but for some reason when I went home and pumped one breast and allowed him to nurse off the other one, the milk came out good. I did extra pumping on the weekend. After a year and a half I only did nursed in the evenings, and I know I went way too long, but I had milk until I finally stopped.
Good Luck with your job and I think nursing is so beneficial to both of you!!!

If you pump during the day you should be fine. I worked in a place that wasn't conducive either but I just made it a priority. I was able to pump even while around people discreetly - they never knew what was going on. This is how I did it. I bought a nursing cover to put over my while I pumped. I also made myself my own hands free pump holder. You can by them too, http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/. I made my own by buying a sports bra and cutting slits big enough for the cups to fit through snuggly at the nipple area. It worked very well. Good luck - you can do it!

Your milk will dry up if you don't pump. The new health care law says that employers have to provide you with a place to pump that isn't a bathroom. I would make an appointment with your boss or HR person now to figure out how they are going to accommodate your need to pump.

I found that even with pumping, my milk supply decreased when I went back to work. You might want to meet with a lactation consultant to figure out some ways in increase your milk supply, if continuing ot exclusively bf is important to you. Good luck-- going back to work is a big transition, but can be good!

The new Healthcare bill protects your right to pump at work. Your employer has to provide you with a clean safe place to pump that is NOT in a bathroom. Here is the section that addresses it:

"Section 4207

Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require employers to provide a reasonable break time and a suitable place, other than a bathroom, for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child. Excludes an employer with less than 50 employees if such requirements would impose an undue hardship."

I worked for a great company (Wegman's) in 1998, and they thought nothing of providing me with a place to pump, it was a conference room that locked. You will need to pump at least every four hours. Your breasts will adjust to the schedule of pumping while you are at work and feeding when you are home in a couple of weeks, but until then, you may find yourself a little engorged during the day. It will probably help to start easing yourself into the schedule now and getting her used to the bottle. Good luck, and kudos to you for continuing to breastfeed after returning to work!

I have to go back to work in August too and my daughter will be 4 months old. If you are able to pump at the same time you would be feeding her, your supply should be good for a while. i only work three days a week, so i need to pump so that the supply is there on my days off. I know you said work isn't conducive to pumping but could you find a way to do it on breaks or during lunch. Any pumping will help keep the supply up. But if for some reason you can't pump, I would just encourage you to breastfeed as often as you can when you are home. If you have to supplement with formula, there's still no reason that you couldn't breastfeed your baby in the morning before work and when you get home a couple times before bed. After I went back to work with my first son, I pumped alot in the beginning and eventually after about 8-9 months just wasn't getting any milk when I pumped but still breastfed him until he was 1 1/2...so if you breastfeed when you are with him, your body will know to produce that milk in the morning and evening. The mother's body is an amazing thing!! Good luck, I know that is very challenging when going back to work,...so hang in there!

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Two suggestions to help when you're pumping... Look at a picture of your daughter just before starting to pump and up until your let down. Even more powerfully, stimulate your sense of smell by bringing a onesie, blankie, or something else that your daughter has used. Close your eyes, block out your surroundings and picture holding your little angel. All of these emotions will really help your body to produce more milk for as long as you can. Some decrease in milk supply is understandable, so just do the best you can :)